Grasslands in northern China serve the country as both an ecological barrier and a livestock production base.There,installing enclosures has been becoming the major grassland restoration measure adopted by many local ...Grasslands in northern China serve the country as both an ecological barrier and a livestock production base.There,installing enclosures has been becoming the major grassland restoration measure adopted by many local governments.However,the effects of restoration on both ecological and production benefits of grassland remain unclear for implemented grassland restoration policies.Therefore,a representative rangeland in northern China,the Maodeng pasture in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region was selected as the study area,and remote sensing monitoring analyses were carried out to quantify the ecological benefits and economic benefits from 2015 to 2021.The results showed that:1) in terms of ecological benefits,the grassland area with a grassland coverage rate of more than 60% accounts for 32.3% of the regional area,and 86.4% of its grassland grew significantly better than the same period in2015,showing a significant improvement in grassland growth.Using the average amount of carbon per unit area as the ecological benefit evaluation index,it increased by 27.1% to 32.48Tg C/yr from 2015 to 2021.2) In terms of economic benefits,both theoretical grass production and livestock carrying capacity increased from 2015 to 2021.Compared to 2015,the theoretical grass production in 2021 increased by 24.8% to 71 900 t.The livestock carrying capacity reached 52 100 sheep units in 2021,nearly 11 000 sheep units more than that in 2015.During the study period,multiple economic indicators(on a per capita basis of permanent residents) for the pastoral area of Xilinhot City to which the Maodeng pasture belongs,have grown steadily.Per capita total income rose from 29 630 yuan(RMB) in2015 to 62 859 yuan(RMB) in 2021.Relying on grassland resources to develop the pastoral ecology also broadens the potential economic development space.Overall,the establishment of the reserve and the experiment of implanting an enclosure policy have had a significant and positive impact on Maodeng pasture’s development from both an ecological and economic perspective.With the support of scientific evidence,enclosure policy can be extended to more than 110 000 km~2 of grasslands in northern China with similar precipitation and temperature conditions,enhancing the productive and ecological potential of grasslands.The above research results will contribute to the scientific formulation of grassland pasture quality improvement plans in northern China.展开更多
Internet of Things (IoT) among of all the technology revolutions has been considered the next evolution of the internet. IoT has become a far more popular area in the computing world. IoT combined a huge number of thi...Internet of Things (IoT) among of all the technology revolutions has been considered the next evolution of the internet. IoT has become a far more popular area in the computing world. IoT combined a huge number of things (devices) that can be connected through the internet. The purpose: this paper aims to explore the concept of the Internet of Things (IoT) generally and outline the main definitions of IoT. The paper also aims to examine and discuss the obstacles and potential benefits of IoT in Saudi universities. Methodology: the researchers reviewed the previous literature and focused on several databases to use the recent studies and research related to the IoT. Then, the researchers also used quantitative methodology to examine the factors affecting the obstacles and potential benefits of IoT. The data were collected by using a questionnaire distributed online among academic staff and a total of 150 participants completed the survey. Finding: the result of this study reveals there are twelve factors that affect the potential benefits of using IoT such as reducing human errors, increasing business income and worker’s productivity. It also shows the eighteen factors which affect obstacles the IoT use, for example sensors’ cost, data privacy, and data security. These factors have the most influence on using IoT in Saudi universities.展开更多
With the introduction of the“dual carbon goals,”there has been a robust development of distributed photovoltaic power generation projects in the promotion of their construction.As part of this initiative,a comprehen...With the introduction of the“dual carbon goals,”there has been a robust development of distributed photovoltaic power generation projects in the promotion of their construction.As part of this initiative,a comprehensive and systematic analysis has been conducted to study the overall benefits of photovoltaic power generation projects.The evaluation process encompasses economic,technical,environmental,and social aspects,providing corresponding analysis methods and data references.Furthermore,targeted countermeasures and suggestions are proposed,signifying the research’s importance for the construction and development of subsequent distributed photovoltaic power generation projects.展开更多
1.Introduction While the applications of computer visions are varied in construction,research has tended to focus on measuring the accuracy of object detectors such as faster region-based-convolution neural networks(F...1.Introduction While the applications of computer visions are varied in construction,research has tended to focus on measuring the accuracy of object detectors such as faster region-based-convolution neural networks(Faster R-CNN)and single shot detector algorithms(SDD)[1].Limited,if any,attention has focused on determining the benefits of such technology in construction beyond the claims that it can help detect problems quickly and accurately.Reinforcing this point are the numerous review papers that have frequented the literature[2,3].展开更多
Climate warming has led to the expansion of arable land at high altitudes,but it has also increased the demand for water use efficiency(WUE).To address this issue,the development of water-saving irrigation technology ...Climate warming has led to the expansion of arable land at high altitudes,but it has also increased the demand for water use efficiency(WUE).To address this issue,the development of water-saving irrigation technology has become crucial in improving water productivity and economic returns.This study aimed to assess the impacts of three irrigation methods on water productivity and economic returns in wolfberry(Lycium barbarum L.)cultivation on the Tibetan Plateau,China during a two-year field trial.Results showed that subsurface irrigation with ceramic emitters(SICE)outperformed surface drip irrigation(DI)and subsurface drip irrigation(SDI)in terms of wolfberry yield.Over the two-year period,the average yield with SICE increased by 8.0%and 2.3%compared with DI and SDI,respectively.This improvement can be attributed to the stable soil moisture and higher temperature accumulation achieved with SICE.Furthermore,SICE exhibited higher WUE,with 14.6%and 4.5%increases compared with DI and SDI,respectively.In addition to the agronomic benefits,SICE also proved advantageous in terms of economic returns.Total average annual input costs of SICE were lower than the other two methods starting from the 8th year.Moreover,the benefit-cost ratio of SICE surpassed the other methods in the 4th year and continued to widen the gap with subsequent year.These findings highlight SICE as an economically viable water-saving irrigation strategy for wolfberry cultivation on the Tibetan Plateau.Thus,this research not only provides an effective water-saving irrigation strategy for wolfberry cultivation but also offers insights into addressing irrigation-related energy challenges in other crop production systems.展开更多
Public-private partnerships(PPPs)have been used by governments around the world to procure and construct infrastructural amenities.It relies on private sector expertise and funding to achieve this lofty objective.Howe...Public-private partnerships(PPPs)have been used by governments around the world to procure and construct infrastructural amenities.It relies on private sector expertise and funding to achieve this lofty objective.However,given the uncertainties of project management,transparency,accountability,and expropriation,this phenomenon has gained tremendous attention in recent years due to the important role it plays in curbing infrastructural deficits globally.Interestingly,the reasonable benefit distribution scheme in a PPP project is related to the behavior decisionmaking of the government and social capital,aswell as the performance of the project.In this paper,the government and social capital which are the key stakeholders of PPP projects were selected as the research objects.Based on the fuzzy expected value model and game theory,a hybrid method was adopted in this research taking into account the different risk preferences of both public entities and private parties under the fuzzy demand environment.To alleviate the problem of insufficient utilization of social capital in a PPP project,this paper seeks to grasp the relationship that exists between the benefit distribution of stakeholders,their behavioral decision-making,and project performance,given that they impact the performance of both public entities and private parties,as well as assist in maximizing the overall utility of the project.Furthermore,four game models were constructed in this study,while the expected value and opportunity-constrained programming model for optimal decision-making were derived using alternate perspectives of both centralized decision-making and decentralized decision-making.Afterward,the optimal behavioral decision-making of public entities and private parties in four scenarios was discussed and thereafter compared,which led to an ensuing discussion on the benefit distribution system under centralized decision-making.Lastly,based on an example case,the influence of different confidence levels,price,and fuzzy uncertainties of PPP projects on the equilibrium strategy results of both parties were discussed,giving credence to the effectiveness of the hybrid method.The results indicate that adjusting different confidence levels yields different equilibriumpoints,and therefore signposts that social capital has a fair perception of opportunities,as well as identifies reciprocal preferences.Nevertheless,we find that an increase in the cost coefficient of the government and social capital does not inhibit the effort of both parties.Our results also indicate that a reasonable benefit distribution of PPP projects can assist them in realizing optimum Pareto improvements over time.The results provide us with very useful strategies and recommendations to improve the overall performance of PPP projects in China.展开更多
Noni juice, made from the fruit of Morinda citrifolia, is a health-promoting food from the Pacific Islands with an extensive history of traditional use. Human clinical trials have revealed that noni juice has antioxid...Noni juice, made from the fruit of Morinda citrifolia, is a health-promoting food from the Pacific Islands with an extensive history of traditional use. Human clinical trials have revealed that noni juice has antioxidant, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. Previously, regular noni juice consumers in Europe and traditional healers in Fiji were surveyed to identify potential noni juice health benefits. But to better understand the perception of its health benefits among those with no previous experience with noni juice, an in-home study was conducted in the United States. Three hundred and nineteen adults with untreated chronic health conditions were provided with a 90-day supply of a blinded (unlabeled) commercial noni juice product (Tahitian Noni<sup>®</sup> Juice), instructed to consume 4 fluid ounces (1/2 cup) each day, and responded to a questionnaire given on days 30, 60 and 90 to evaluate product appeal and perceived effectiveness. A total of 299 people (94%) felt that their health improved in some way after drinking TNJ for 90 days. More than 80% of the subjects reported feeling better or healthier in general. Most participants also concurred with more than two dozen additional positive health perception statements, especially on days 60 and 90. More than 70% of consumers also indicated that noni juice helped them feel better than other wellness supplements they had tried in the past, including other so-called “super fruit” products. These findings seem to corroborate the results of clinical trials and previous consumer surveys regarding the potential for noni juice to provide discernable health benefits when used consistently over time. Such findings may help guide additional placebo-controlled clinical trials in which specific effects may be evaluated more rigorously.展开更多
[Objectives]This study aimed to investigate the effects of whole-crop maize silage harvested at different stages on growth and economic benefits of beef cattle.[Methods]A total of 30 Simmental crossbred cattle weighin...[Objectives]This study aimed to investigate the effects of whole-crop maize silage harvested at different stages on growth and economic benefits of beef cattle.[Methods]A total of 30 Simmental crossbred cattle weighing about 378 kg were randomly divided into three groups,respectively fed for 70 days with whole-crop maize silage harvested at milk stage(GroupⅠ),dough stage(GroupⅡ)and physiological maturity stage(GroupⅢ).Moreover,the cattle in all groups were given the same concentrate diet.[Results]There were significant differences in dry matter,crude protein and neutral detergent fiber between whole-crop maize silages harvested at different stages(P<0.05).The dry matter in GroupⅡandⅢwas significantly higher than that in GroupⅠ(P<0.05).The crude protein content peaked in GroupⅡ,up to 6.37%,which was significantly higher than that in GroupⅠ(by 12.74%,P<0.05)and GroupⅢ(by 9.26%,P<0.05).Starch content significantly increased with the postponing of maize harvest(P<0.05).The content of neutral detergent fiber in Group I was significantly higher than that in GroupⅡ(P<0.05)and GroupⅢ(P<0.05).The average daily weight gain in GroupⅡwas 8.53%higher than that in GroupⅠ(P<0.05)and 3.70%higher than that in GroupⅢ(P>0.05).The dry matter intake in GroupⅡwas significantly higher than that in GroupⅠ(P<0.05)and GroupⅢ(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in feed/gain ratio between the groups(P>0.05).The economic benefit in GroupⅡwas the highest,up to 9.99 yuan/day per capita.,followed by that in GroupⅢ,9.79 yuan/day per capita,and that in GroupⅠwas the lowest,only 8.03 yuan/day per capita.[Conclusions]The whole-crop maize silage harvested at dough stage has the best quality and produces the highest economic returns for beef cattle.展开更多
[Objectives]Based on the related literature of benefit finding in China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI),this paper analyzes the research status,hot spots and trends in this field.[Methods]To search for the rel...[Objectives]Based on the related literature of benefit finding in China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI),this paper analyzes the research status,hot spots and trends in this field.[Methods]To search for the related literature on benefit finding in China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI),and use Citespace software to visually analyze the number of papers,authors,institutions and keywords.[Results]A total of 204 related papers were obtained,and the annual number of published papers showed a gradual increasing trend.The authors of published papers were represented by Zhang Fenglan,Liu Zhunzhun and Zhang Ting,and the Nursing College of Anhui Medical University published the most papers.The research focus was on social support,coping method and other influencing factors,and qualitative research was the main research type.The key population was breast cancer,stroke patients and their caregivers,and the development trend focused on reliability and validity test and correlation analysis.[Conclusions]The field of benefit finding in China is in the initial exploration stage,and there is little cooperation and exchange between authors and institutions.In the future,academic exchanges and multidisciplinary assistance should be strengthened to promote the rapid development of this field.展开更多
Gluten,the protein responsible for the superior viscoelastic properties of refined wheat flour dough over glutenfree cereals,causes celiac disease in people susceptible to gluten-allergy.Moreover,the sustainability of...Gluten,the protein responsible for the superior viscoelastic properties of refined wheat flour dough over glutenfree cereals,causes celiac disease in people susceptible to gluten-allergy.Moreover,the sustainability of using wheat flour in baked foods is threatened by its high cost,especially in countries that depend on imported wheat for their bakery industry.Research has shown that hydrocolloids serve as gluten replacements in baked foods,in response to these challenges.Food hydrocolloids are a class of high-molecular weight polysaccharides and proteins,which serve as functional ingredients in the food industry that modify the foods’rheological and textural properties.They function as stabilizers,viscosity modifiers,gelling agents,water binders,fibres,and inhibitors of ice crystal in foods.Further,food hydrocolloids have also been reported to possess health-promoting properties,such as lowering of postprandial blood glucose and plasma cholesterol concentrations,colon cancer prevention,and modulation of intestinal transit and satiety.They are obtained from plants,animals or microorganisms,and can be used in their natural or modified forms.The aim of this paper is to review the functional benefits of natural and modified hydrocolloids as gluten replacements in baked foods,emphasizing their physicochemical,nutraceutical,and sensorial importance.The application effects of food hydrocolloids as gluten substitutes in gluten-free baked products’quality were discussed.Also,some practical approaches to improve the quality of gluten-free baked products,in response to an increasing consumers’demand and the rising cost of refined wheat flour were highlighted.展开更多
Low carbon landscape development is an emerging approach of landscape design,which aims to promote sustainable development,and reduce energy consumption and environmental impact by reducing carbon emissions.As an impo...Low carbon landscape development is an emerging approach of landscape design,which aims to promote sustainable development,and reduce energy consumption and environmental impact by reducing carbon emissions.As an important component of low carbon landscape construction,the construction of urban pocket park system based on mini-parks plays a crucial role in improving the urban greening level,increasing the urban green space,alleviating the urban pressure,improving the living and healthy environment of urban residents,and promoting the urban ecological balance.Taking Chaowai district of Beijing as an example,this paper calculates the ecological value of trees including energy contribution,carbon sequestration,ability to improve rainfall runoff and aesthetic value by collecting the information of trees and the plot on which the trees are located through the i-Tree platform,which provides important reference value for the urban pocket park system planning to create low carbon comprehensive benefits.展开更多
As the international trading system has developed with the division of Global value Chains (GVCS), the export trade of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) has grown rapidly. The resulting growth of ...As the international trading system has developed with the division of Global value Chains (GVCS), the export trade of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) has grown rapidly. The resulting growth of carbon emissions has drawn wide attention from the international community, necessitating the comparison of the trade benefits and environmental costs of the BRICS participation in GVCS. Based on the Eora database, this paper constructs a decomposition framework for the calculation of export value-added and embodied carbon, based on a multi-region input-output (MRIO) model. The trade benefits and environmental costs paid by the BRICS’ total exports from 1990 to 2015 were measured and the imbalance was analyzed, along with the causes. The results show that the main value-added and carbon embodied in the BRICS’ exports originate from their own countries, and the domestic value-added content of the BRICS’ exports decreased while the foreign value-added content increased.展开更多
In recent years,with the advancement of geothermal heating engineering technology,the projects and scale of geothermal heating have continued to grow.At present,geothermal development and utilization projects are most...In recent years,with the advancement of geothermal heating engineering technology,the projects and scale of geothermal heating have continued to grow.At present,geothermal development and utilization projects are mostly researched on economic evaluation methods,main control factors of benefits and case analysis of project benefits.Post-evaluation of economic benefits can provide strong support for improving existing projects,adjusting projects under construction,and guiding proposed projects,but there are few studies on post-evaluation of economic benefits of completed geothermal heating projects.In order to improve the economic benefits of geothermal heating projects and change extensive management to intensive management,this paper studies the post-evaluation principles,methods and evaluation indicators of the economic benefits of hydrothermal geothermal heating projects,and take the geothermal water heating project of S community in Xianyang City as an example to carry out the post-evaluation research on economic benefits.Through research,it is suggested to carry out post-economic evaluation of geothermal utilization projects that have been completed and run for 3 to 5 years.In order to do a good job in the post-evaluation of economic benefits,the evaluators should continue to track the progress of the project,collect and analyze various historical data in a timely manner,and select a variety of methods for prediction,comparison and mutual correction.In order to fully reflect the benefits of geothermal heating,the indirect benefit evaluation of energy conservation and emission reduction of geothermal heating projects will be strengthened in the future.展开更多
China’s development experience provides a reference for developing countries to move towards modernization.OVER the past 45 years of reform and opening-up,China has made tremendous achievements.As the largest develop...China’s development experience provides a reference for developing countries to move towards modernization.OVER the past 45 years of reform and opening-up,China has made tremendous achievements.As the largest developing country in the world,its unique experience has not only benefited its own people,but also made significant contributions to global economic growth.展开更多
The construction industry needs modern construction methodology and technology to improve sustainability and production performance.Building Information Modelling(BIM)technology supports improving the quality of produ...The construction industry needs modern construction methodology and technology to improve sustainability and production performance.Building Information Modelling(BIM)technology supports improving the quality of products by reducing design and construction defects,risks to the health and safety of workers,and reduce overall project cost and delivery time.The BIM has capabilities,but it is still undiscovered and unable to exploit the full scale of its benefits in the Architectural Engineering and Construction(AEC)industry.There is a trend to adopt the BIM level 1,which is limited to 2D and only in a few cases 3D models uses in the design and construction of residential and commercial buildings,particularly in Nepal.Hence,this paper focuses on providing insight into the BIM benefits and identifies the potential barriers while adopting BIM Level 3 in Nepal.This was accomplished by developing a 4DBIM model of a multi-story residential building in Nepal and conducting the industry survey via focus group with the AEC professionals based on the developed 4DBIM model.A comprehensive literature review was conducted and presented the findings of the BIM benefits and barriers while adopting BIM.The study found that commercial and governmental projects can immediately be adopted BIM technology.It is concluded that the unavailability of skilled BIM users and the lack of proper policies for BIM adoption are key barriers in Nepal.Hence,the new policy is required to achieve and exploit the full scale of the BIM benefits and improve the project delivery in terms of quality,cost and time including the health and safety of workers and the sustainability of the AEC industry.展开更多
The ITMA 2023 textile machinery show held in Milan from June 8-14 was hugely successful for members of TMAS–the Swedish Textile Machinery Association–with significant new orders secured and a range of new initiative...The ITMA 2023 textile machinery show held in Milan from June 8-14 was hugely successful for members of TMAS–the Swedish Textile Machinery Association–with significant new orders secured and a range of new initiatives announced.“Just a week before the opening of ITMA 2023,the European Parliament voted for the full adoption of the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles,”said TMAS secretary general Therese Premler-Andersson.“It was very clear in Milan that this is already galvanising the textile industry into new collaborations and there was huge interest in the sustainable benefits offered by the latest automated concepts of our members.”展开更多
AIM To determine whether recent evidence-based United States polices on male circumcision(MC) apply to comparable Anglophone countries,Australia and New Zealand.METHODS Articles in 2005 through 2015 were retrieved fro...AIM To determine whether recent evidence-based United States polices on male circumcision(MC) apply to comparable Anglophone countries,Australia and New Zealand.METHODS Articles in 2005 through 2015 were retrieved from PubM ed using the keyword "circumcision" together with 36 relevant subtopics.A further PubM ed search was performed for articles published in 2016.Searches of the EMBASE and Cochrane databases did not yield additional citable articles.Articles were assessed for quality and those rated 2+ and above according to the Scottish Intercollegiate Grading System were studied further.The most relevant andrepresentative of the topic were included.Bibliographies were examined to retrieve further key references.Randomized controlled trials,recent high quality systematic reviews or meta-analyses(level 1++ or 1+ evidence) were prioritized for inclusion.A risk-benefit analysis of articles rated for quality was performed.For efficiency and reliability,recent randomized controlled trials,metaanalyses,high quality systematic reviews and large welldesigned studies were used if available.Internet searches were conducted for other relevant information,including policies and Australian data on claims under Medicare for MC.RESULTS Evidence-based policy statements by the American Academy of Pediatrics(AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) support infant and later age male circumcision(MC) as a desirable public health measure.Our systematic review of relevant literature over the past decade yielded 140 journal articles that met our inclusion criteria.Together,these showed that early infant MC confers immediate and lifelong benefits by protecting against urinary tract infections having potential adverse long-term renal effects,phimosis that causes difficult and painful erections and "ballooning" during urination,inflammatory skin conditions,inferior penile hygiene,candidiasis,various sexually transmissible infections in both sexes,genital ulcers,and penile,prostate and cervical cancer.Our risk-benefit analysis showed that benefits exceeded procedural risks,which are predominantly minor,by up to 200 to 1.We estimated that more than 1 in 2 uncircumcised males will experience an adverse foreskin-related medical condition over their lifetime.Wide-ranging evidence from surveys,physiological measurements,and the anatomical location of penile sensory receptors responsible for sexual sensation strongly and consistently suggested that MC has no detrimental effect on sexual function,sensitivity or pleasure.United States studies showed that early infant MC is cost saving.The evidence supporting early infant MC has further strengthened since the positive AAP and CDC reviews.CONCLUSION Affirmative MC policies are needed in Australia and New Zealand.Routine provision of accurate,unbiased education,and access in public hospitals,will maximize health and financial benefits.展开更多
To financially evaluate an IT projects is to assess its financial feasibility, while the financial benefits are the core parameters of financial evaluation of IT projects. Therefore, correctly identifying the financia...To financially evaluate an IT projects is to assess its financial feasibility, while the financial benefits are the core parameters of financial evaluation of IT projects. Therefore, correctly identifying the financial benefits of IT projects is the precondition to ensure the validity of the financial evaluation. Essentially, IT projects can be divided into productive IT projects and supportive IT projects. The paper analyzes the importance of identifying the financial benefits and introduces the meaning, characteristics and classification of financial benefits of IT projects. On this basis, the paper identifies the financial benefits of both productive IT projects and supportive IT projects and emphasizes the formation and specific calculation method of the two types of IT projects. For productive IT projects and supportive IT projects, the calculation of financial benefits should employ different methods.展开更多
This paper mainly discussed the operation benefits of fruit dealers in farm market. Taking fruit dealers in Shizishan Street Farm market in Wuhan City as the research object,this paper introduced current operation sit...This paper mainly discussed the operation benefits of fruit dealers in farm market. Taking fruit dealers in Shizishan Street Farm market in Wuhan City as the research object,this paper introduced current operation situation of fruit dealers and made a descriptive statistical analysis on characteristics of operators,operation situation,and cognitive status. Besides,it introduced the concept of net cost-benefit ratio to reflect the operation benefits. From further analysis on the operation benefits of fruit dealers,it found that there is little difference in the costbenefit ratio between dealers in the farm market. The average net cost-benefit ratio was 11. 94%. Specifically,if the total cost is 100 yuan,the dealer can obtain 12 yuan net profit. In order to find out how cost factors affect the operation benefits,it established a regression model for cost factors and net cost-benefit ratio. According to the survey results,when the wholesale cost increases 10000 yuan,the cost-benefit ratio will increase by 1. 454 percentage points,thus increasing the wholesale investment is helpful for increasing the net cost-benefit ratio; when the loss cost increases 10000 yuan,the cost-benefit ratio will increase by 7. 501 percentage points,thus the dealers can increase the operation benefits through controlling the loss cost and reducing the operation cost. Finally,it came up policy recommendations from the perspective of government and operators.展开更多
Agroforestry and beekeeping are widely promoted as prospective Nature-</span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:""> </span></span></span><span...Agroforestry and beekeeping are widely promoted as prospective Nature-</span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:""> </span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Based Income Generating Activities (NIGAs) to improve livelihoods while at </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">the same time enhancing biodiversity conservation in degrading</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> agro-ecologies. These activities can diversify and increase famers’ incomes and support in</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">stinctive biota and fauna resilience. However, evidence to showcase and compare their long-term benefits is scant. We use the case of Uluguru</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> Mountains in Tanzania to evaluate and compare viability of agroforestry and beekeeping projects using the Cost</span></span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:""> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Benefit Analysis (CBA) approach. The results of analysis yielded positive NPVs for both agroforestry and beekeeping projects at discount rates not higher than 8.2% and 8.5% respectively. Overall, the comparison of economic viability between agroforestry and beekeeping projects revealed that the former was relatively more profitable than the later in terms of both the NPV and Benefit</span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:""> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Cost Ratio (BCR) criteria. However, the Internal Rate of Return (IRR) for beekeeping was slightly higher than that of agroforestry. Yet, we underscore the fact that these two projects can jointly be implemented to enhance livelihoods of farmers and support biodiversity conservation in the study </span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">area </span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">and other parts with similar agro-ecologies in developing countries. However, farmers in these agro-ecologies need to be supported by governments and non-government development partners in terms of training and inspiration to shift from orthodox farming to sustainable NIGAs.展开更多
基金Under the auspices of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Science and Technology Achievement Transformation Special Project(No.2020CG0123)the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.XDA26050301-01)。
文摘Grasslands in northern China serve the country as both an ecological barrier and a livestock production base.There,installing enclosures has been becoming the major grassland restoration measure adopted by many local governments.However,the effects of restoration on both ecological and production benefits of grassland remain unclear for implemented grassland restoration policies.Therefore,a representative rangeland in northern China,the Maodeng pasture in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region was selected as the study area,and remote sensing monitoring analyses were carried out to quantify the ecological benefits and economic benefits from 2015 to 2021.The results showed that:1) in terms of ecological benefits,the grassland area with a grassland coverage rate of more than 60% accounts for 32.3% of the regional area,and 86.4% of its grassland grew significantly better than the same period in2015,showing a significant improvement in grassland growth.Using the average amount of carbon per unit area as the ecological benefit evaluation index,it increased by 27.1% to 32.48Tg C/yr from 2015 to 2021.2) In terms of economic benefits,both theoretical grass production and livestock carrying capacity increased from 2015 to 2021.Compared to 2015,the theoretical grass production in 2021 increased by 24.8% to 71 900 t.The livestock carrying capacity reached 52 100 sheep units in 2021,nearly 11 000 sheep units more than that in 2015.During the study period,multiple economic indicators(on a per capita basis of permanent residents) for the pastoral area of Xilinhot City to which the Maodeng pasture belongs,have grown steadily.Per capita total income rose from 29 630 yuan(RMB) in2015 to 62 859 yuan(RMB) in 2021.Relying on grassland resources to develop the pastoral ecology also broadens the potential economic development space.Overall,the establishment of the reserve and the experiment of implanting an enclosure policy have had a significant and positive impact on Maodeng pasture’s development from both an ecological and economic perspective.With the support of scientific evidence,enclosure policy can be extended to more than 110 000 km~2 of grasslands in northern China with similar precipitation and temperature conditions,enhancing the productive and ecological potential of grasslands.The above research results will contribute to the scientific formulation of grassland pasture quality improvement plans in northern China.
文摘Internet of Things (IoT) among of all the technology revolutions has been considered the next evolution of the internet. IoT has become a far more popular area in the computing world. IoT combined a huge number of things (devices) that can be connected through the internet. The purpose: this paper aims to explore the concept of the Internet of Things (IoT) generally and outline the main definitions of IoT. The paper also aims to examine and discuss the obstacles and potential benefits of IoT in Saudi universities. Methodology: the researchers reviewed the previous literature and focused on several databases to use the recent studies and research related to the IoT. Then, the researchers also used quantitative methodology to examine the factors affecting the obstacles and potential benefits of IoT. The data were collected by using a questionnaire distributed online among academic staff and a total of 150 participants completed the survey. Finding: the result of this study reveals there are twelve factors that affect the potential benefits of using IoT such as reducing human errors, increasing business income and worker’s productivity. It also shows the eighteen factors which affect obstacles the IoT use, for example sensors’ cost, data privacy, and data security. These factors have the most influence on using IoT in Saudi universities.
文摘With the introduction of the“dual carbon goals,”there has been a robust development of distributed photovoltaic power generation projects in the promotion of their construction.As part of this initiative,a comprehensive and systematic analysis has been conducted to study the overall benefits of photovoltaic power generation projects.The evaluation process encompasses economic,technical,environmental,and social aspects,providing corresponding analysis methods and data references.Furthermore,targeted countermeasures and suggestions are proposed,signifying the research’s importance for the construction and development of subsequent distributed photovoltaic power generation projects.
基金financial support of the Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftungthe National Natural Science Foundation of China(U21A20151)。
文摘1.Introduction While the applications of computer visions are varied in construction,research has tended to focus on measuring the accuracy of object detectors such as faster region-based-convolution neural networks(Faster R-CNN)and single shot detector algorithms(SDD)[1].Limited,if any,attention has focused on determining the benefits of such technology in construction beyond the claims that it can help detect problems quickly and accurately.Reinforcing this point are the numerous review papers that have frequented the literature[2,3].
基金This research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52079131,51779246).
文摘Climate warming has led to the expansion of arable land at high altitudes,but it has also increased the demand for water use efficiency(WUE).To address this issue,the development of water-saving irrigation technology has become crucial in improving water productivity and economic returns.This study aimed to assess the impacts of three irrigation methods on water productivity and economic returns in wolfberry(Lycium barbarum L.)cultivation on the Tibetan Plateau,China during a two-year field trial.Results showed that subsurface irrigation with ceramic emitters(SICE)outperformed surface drip irrigation(DI)and subsurface drip irrigation(SDI)in terms of wolfberry yield.Over the two-year period,the average yield with SICE increased by 8.0%and 2.3%compared with DI and SDI,respectively.This improvement can be attributed to the stable soil moisture and higher temperature accumulation achieved with SICE.Furthermore,SICE exhibited higher WUE,with 14.6%and 4.5%increases compared with DI and SDI,respectively.In addition to the agronomic benefits,SICE also proved advantageous in terms of economic returns.Total average annual input costs of SICE were lower than the other two methods starting from the 8th year.Moreover,the benefit-cost ratio of SICE surpassed the other methods in the 4th year and continued to widen the gap with subsequent year.These findings highlight SICE as an economically viable water-saving irrigation strategy for wolfberry cultivation on the Tibetan Plateau.Thus,this research not only provides an effective water-saving irrigation strategy for wolfberry cultivation but also offers insights into addressing irrigation-related energy challenges in other crop production systems.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.62141302)the Humanities Social Science Programming Project of the Ministry of Education of China(No.20YJA630059)+2 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province of China(No.20212BAB201011)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(No.2019M662265)the Research Project of Economic and Social Development in Liaoning Province of China(No.2022lslybkt-053).
文摘Public-private partnerships(PPPs)have been used by governments around the world to procure and construct infrastructural amenities.It relies on private sector expertise and funding to achieve this lofty objective.However,given the uncertainties of project management,transparency,accountability,and expropriation,this phenomenon has gained tremendous attention in recent years due to the important role it plays in curbing infrastructural deficits globally.Interestingly,the reasonable benefit distribution scheme in a PPP project is related to the behavior decisionmaking of the government and social capital,aswell as the performance of the project.In this paper,the government and social capital which are the key stakeholders of PPP projects were selected as the research objects.Based on the fuzzy expected value model and game theory,a hybrid method was adopted in this research taking into account the different risk preferences of both public entities and private parties under the fuzzy demand environment.To alleviate the problem of insufficient utilization of social capital in a PPP project,this paper seeks to grasp the relationship that exists between the benefit distribution of stakeholders,their behavioral decision-making,and project performance,given that they impact the performance of both public entities and private parties,as well as assist in maximizing the overall utility of the project.Furthermore,four game models were constructed in this study,while the expected value and opportunity-constrained programming model for optimal decision-making were derived using alternate perspectives of both centralized decision-making and decentralized decision-making.Afterward,the optimal behavioral decision-making of public entities and private parties in four scenarios was discussed and thereafter compared,which led to an ensuing discussion on the benefit distribution system under centralized decision-making.Lastly,based on an example case,the influence of different confidence levels,price,and fuzzy uncertainties of PPP projects on the equilibrium strategy results of both parties were discussed,giving credence to the effectiveness of the hybrid method.The results indicate that adjusting different confidence levels yields different equilibriumpoints,and therefore signposts that social capital has a fair perception of opportunities,as well as identifies reciprocal preferences.Nevertheless,we find that an increase in the cost coefficient of the government and social capital does not inhibit the effort of both parties.Our results also indicate that a reasonable benefit distribution of PPP projects can assist them in realizing optimum Pareto improvements over time.The results provide us with very useful strategies and recommendations to improve the overall performance of PPP projects in China.
文摘Noni juice, made from the fruit of Morinda citrifolia, is a health-promoting food from the Pacific Islands with an extensive history of traditional use. Human clinical trials have revealed that noni juice has antioxidant, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. Previously, regular noni juice consumers in Europe and traditional healers in Fiji were surveyed to identify potential noni juice health benefits. But to better understand the perception of its health benefits among those with no previous experience with noni juice, an in-home study was conducted in the United States. Three hundred and nineteen adults with untreated chronic health conditions were provided with a 90-day supply of a blinded (unlabeled) commercial noni juice product (Tahitian Noni<sup>®</sup> Juice), instructed to consume 4 fluid ounces (1/2 cup) each day, and responded to a questionnaire given on days 30, 60 and 90 to evaluate product appeal and perceived effectiveness. A total of 299 people (94%) felt that their health improved in some way after drinking TNJ for 90 days. More than 80% of the subjects reported feeling better or healthier in general. Most participants also concurred with more than two dozen additional positive health perception statements, especially on days 60 and 90. More than 70% of consumers also indicated that noni juice helped them feel better than other wellness supplements they had tried in the past, including other so-called “super fruit” products. These findings seem to corroborate the results of clinical trials and previous consumer surveys regarding the potential for noni juice to provide discernable health benefits when used consistently over time. Such findings may help guide additional placebo-controlled clinical trials in which specific effects may be evaluated more rigorously.
基金Supported by the Fourth Batch of High-end Talent Project in Hebei ProvinceHebei Provincial Forage Innovation Team Building from the Earmarked Fund for China Agriculture Research System(HBCT2018160403)。
文摘[Objectives]This study aimed to investigate the effects of whole-crop maize silage harvested at different stages on growth and economic benefits of beef cattle.[Methods]A total of 30 Simmental crossbred cattle weighing about 378 kg were randomly divided into three groups,respectively fed for 70 days with whole-crop maize silage harvested at milk stage(GroupⅠ),dough stage(GroupⅡ)and physiological maturity stage(GroupⅢ).Moreover,the cattle in all groups were given the same concentrate diet.[Results]There were significant differences in dry matter,crude protein and neutral detergent fiber between whole-crop maize silages harvested at different stages(P<0.05).The dry matter in GroupⅡandⅢwas significantly higher than that in GroupⅠ(P<0.05).The crude protein content peaked in GroupⅡ,up to 6.37%,which was significantly higher than that in GroupⅠ(by 12.74%,P<0.05)and GroupⅢ(by 9.26%,P<0.05).Starch content significantly increased with the postponing of maize harvest(P<0.05).The content of neutral detergent fiber in Group I was significantly higher than that in GroupⅡ(P<0.05)and GroupⅢ(P<0.05).The average daily weight gain in GroupⅡwas 8.53%higher than that in GroupⅠ(P<0.05)and 3.70%higher than that in GroupⅢ(P>0.05).The dry matter intake in GroupⅡwas significantly higher than that in GroupⅠ(P<0.05)and GroupⅢ(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in feed/gain ratio between the groups(P>0.05).The economic benefit in GroupⅡwas the highest,up to 9.99 yuan/day per capita.,followed by that in GroupⅢ,9.79 yuan/day per capita,and that in GroupⅠwas the lowest,only 8.03 yuan/day per capita.[Conclusions]The whole-crop maize silage harvested at dough stage has the best quality and produces the highest economic returns for beef cattle.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(71774049)。
文摘[Objectives]Based on the related literature of benefit finding in China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI),this paper analyzes the research status,hot spots and trends in this field.[Methods]To search for the related literature on benefit finding in China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI),and use Citespace software to visually analyze the number of papers,authors,institutions and keywords.[Results]A total of 204 related papers were obtained,and the annual number of published papers showed a gradual increasing trend.The authors of published papers were represented by Zhang Fenglan,Liu Zhunzhun and Zhang Ting,and the Nursing College of Anhui Medical University published the most papers.The research focus was on social support,coping method and other influencing factors,and qualitative research was the main research type.The key population was breast cancer,stroke patients and their caregivers,and the development trend focused on reliability and validity test and correlation analysis.[Conclusions]The field of benefit finding in China is in the initial exploration stage,and there is little cooperation and exchange between authors and institutions.In the future,academic exchanges and multidisciplinary assistance should be strengthened to promote the rapid development of this field.
文摘Gluten,the protein responsible for the superior viscoelastic properties of refined wheat flour dough over glutenfree cereals,causes celiac disease in people susceptible to gluten-allergy.Moreover,the sustainability of using wheat flour in baked foods is threatened by its high cost,especially in countries that depend on imported wheat for their bakery industry.Research has shown that hydrocolloids serve as gluten replacements in baked foods,in response to these challenges.Food hydrocolloids are a class of high-molecular weight polysaccharides and proteins,which serve as functional ingredients in the food industry that modify the foods’rheological and textural properties.They function as stabilizers,viscosity modifiers,gelling agents,water binders,fibres,and inhibitors of ice crystal in foods.Further,food hydrocolloids have also been reported to possess health-promoting properties,such as lowering of postprandial blood glucose and plasma cholesterol concentrations,colon cancer prevention,and modulation of intestinal transit and satiety.They are obtained from plants,animals or microorganisms,and can be used in their natural or modified forms.The aim of this paper is to review the functional benefits of natural and modified hydrocolloids as gluten replacements in baked foods,emphasizing their physicochemical,nutraceutical,and sensorial importance.The application effects of food hydrocolloids as gluten substitutes in gluten-free baked products’quality were discussed.Also,some practical approaches to improve the quality of gluten-free baked products,in response to an increasing consumers’demand and the rising cost of refined wheat flour were highlighted.
基金Sponsored by General Project of Natural Science Foundation of Beijing City(8202017)Youth Talent Support Program of 2018 Beijing Municipal University Academic Human Resources Development(PXM2018_014212_000043).
文摘Low carbon landscape development is an emerging approach of landscape design,which aims to promote sustainable development,and reduce energy consumption and environmental impact by reducing carbon emissions.As an important component of low carbon landscape construction,the construction of urban pocket park system based on mini-parks plays a crucial role in improving the urban greening level,increasing the urban green space,alleviating the urban pressure,improving the living and healthy environment of urban residents,and promoting the urban ecological balance.Taking Chaowai district of Beijing as an example,this paper calculates the ecological value of trees including energy contribution,carbon sequestration,ability to improve rainfall runoff and aesthetic value by collecting the information of trees and the plot on which the trees are located through the i-Tree platform,which provides important reference value for the urban pocket park system planning to create low carbon comprehensive benefits.
文摘As the international trading system has developed with the division of Global value Chains (GVCS), the export trade of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) has grown rapidly. The resulting growth of carbon emissions has drawn wide attention from the international community, necessitating the comparison of the trade benefits and environmental costs of the BRICS participation in GVCS. Based on the Eora database, this paper constructs a decomposition framework for the calculation of export value-added and embodied carbon, based on a multi-region input-output (MRIO) model. The trade benefits and environmental costs paid by the BRICS’ total exports from 1990 to 2015 were measured and the imbalance was analyzed, along with the causes. The results show that the main value-added and carbon embodied in the BRICS’ exports originate from their own countries, and the domestic value-added content of the BRICS’ exports decreased while the foreign value-added content increased.
文摘In recent years,with the advancement of geothermal heating engineering technology,the projects and scale of geothermal heating have continued to grow.At present,geothermal development and utilization projects are mostly researched on economic evaluation methods,main control factors of benefits and case analysis of project benefits.Post-evaluation of economic benefits can provide strong support for improving existing projects,adjusting projects under construction,and guiding proposed projects,but there are few studies on post-evaluation of economic benefits of completed geothermal heating projects.In order to improve the economic benefits of geothermal heating projects and change extensive management to intensive management,this paper studies the post-evaluation principles,methods and evaluation indicators of the economic benefits of hydrothermal geothermal heating projects,and take the geothermal water heating project of S community in Xianyang City as an example to carry out the post-evaluation research on economic benefits.Through research,it is suggested to carry out post-economic evaluation of geothermal utilization projects that have been completed and run for 3 to 5 years.In order to do a good job in the post-evaluation of economic benefits,the evaluators should continue to track the progress of the project,collect and analyze various historical data in a timely manner,and select a variety of methods for prediction,comparison and mutual correction.In order to fully reflect the benefits of geothermal heating,the indirect benefit evaluation of energy conservation and emission reduction of geothermal heating projects will be strengthened in the future.
文摘China’s development experience provides a reference for developing countries to move towards modernization.OVER the past 45 years of reform and opening-up,China has made tremendous achievements.As the largest developing country in the world,its unique experience has not only benefited its own people,but also made significant contributions to global economic growth.
文摘The construction industry needs modern construction methodology and technology to improve sustainability and production performance.Building Information Modelling(BIM)technology supports improving the quality of products by reducing design and construction defects,risks to the health and safety of workers,and reduce overall project cost and delivery time.The BIM has capabilities,but it is still undiscovered and unable to exploit the full scale of its benefits in the Architectural Engineering and Construction(AEC)industry.There is a trend to adopt the BIM level 1,which is limited to 2D and only in a few cases 3D models uses in the design and construction of residential and commercial buildings,particularly in Nepal.Hence,this paper focuses on providing insight into the BIM benefits and identifies the potential barriers while adopting BIM Level 3 in Nepal.This was accomplished by developing a 4DBIM model of a multi-story residential building in Nepal and conducting the industry survey via focus group with the AEC professionals based on the developed 4DBIM model.A comprehensive literature review was conducted and presented the findings of the BIM benefits and barriers while adopting BIM.The study found that commercial and governmental projects can immediately be adopted BIM technology.It is concluded that the unavailability of skilled BIM users and the lack of proper policies for BIM adoption are key barriers in Nepal.Hence,the new policy is required to achieve and exploit the full scale of the BIM benefits and improve the project delivery in terms of quality,cost and time including the health and safety of workers and the sustainability of the AEC industry.
文摘The ITMA 2023 textile machinery show held in Milan from June 8-14 was hugely successful for members of TMAS–the Swedish Textile Machinery Association–with significant new orders secured and a range of new initiatives announced.“Just a week before the opening of ITMA 2023,the European Parliament voted for the full adoption of the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles,”said TMAS secretary general Therese Premler-Andersson.“It was very clear in Milan that this is already galvanising the textile industry into new collaborations and there was huge interest in the sustainable benefits offered by the latest automated concepts of our members.”
文摘AIM To determine whether recent evidence-based United States polices on male circumcision(MC) apply to comparable Anglophone countries,Australia and New Zealand.METHODS Articles in 2005 through 2015 were retrieved from PubM ed using the keyword "circumcision" together with 36 relevant subtopics.A further PubM ed search was performed for articles published in 2016.Searches of the EMBASE and Cochrane databases did not yield additional citable articles.Articles were assessed for quality and those rated 2+ and above according to the Scottish Intercollegiate Grading System were studied further.The most relevant andrepresentative of the topic were included.Bibliographies were examined to retrieve further key references.Randomized controlled trials,recent high quality systematic reviews or meta-analyses(level 1++ or 1+ evidence) were prioritized for inclusion.A risk-benefit analysis of articles rated for quality was performed.For efficiency and reliability,recent randomized controlled trials,metaanalyses,high quality systematic reviews and large welldesigned studies were used if available.Internet searches were conducted for other relevant information,including policies and Australian data on claims under Medicare for MC.RESULTS Evidence-based policy statements by the American Academy of Pediatrics(AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) support infant and later age male circumcision(MC) as a desirable public health measure.Our systematic review of relevant literature over the past decade yielded 140 journal articles that met our inclusion criteria.Together,these showed that early infant MC confers immediate and lifelong benefits by protecting against urinary tract infections having potential adverse long-term renal effects,phimosis that causes difficult and painful erections and "ballooning" during urination,inflammatory skin conditions,inferior penile hygiene,candidiasis,various sexually transmissible infections in both sexes,genital ulcers,and penile,prostate and cervical cancer.Our risk-benefit analysis showed that benefits exceeded procedural risks,which are predominantly minor,by up to 200 to 1.We estimated that more than 1 in 2 uncircumcised males will experience an adverse foreskin-related medical condition over their lifetime.Wide-ranging evidence from surveys,physiological measurements,and the anatomical location of penile sensory receptors responsible for sexual sensation strongly and consistently suggested that MC has no detrimental effect on sexual function,sensitivity or pleasure.United States studies showed that early infant MC is cost saving.The evidence supporting early infant MC has further strengthened since the positive AAP and CDC reviews.CONCLUSION Affirmative MC policies are needed in Australia and New Zealand.Routine provision of accurate,unbiased education,and access in public hospitals,will maximize health and financial benefits.
文摘To financially evaluate an IT projects is to assess its financial feasibility, while the financial benefits are the core parameters of financial evaluation of IT projects. Therefore, correctly identifying the financial benefits of IT projects is the precondition to ensure the validity of the financial evaluation. Essentially, IT projects can be divided into productive IT projects and supportive IT projects. The paper analyzes the importance of identifying the financial benefits and introduces the meaning, characteristics and classification of financial benefits of IT projects. On this basis, the paper identifies the financial benefits of both productive IT projects and supportive IT projects and emphasizes the formation and specific calculation method of the two types of IT projects. For productive IT projects and supportive IT projects, the calculation of financial benefits should employ different methods.
文摘This paper mainly discussed the operation benefits of fruit dealers in farm market. Taking fruit dealers in Shizishan Street Farm market in Wuhan City as the research object,this paper introduced current operation situation of fruit dealers and made a descriptive statistical analysis on characteristics of operators,operation situation,and cognitive status. Besides,it introduced the concept of net cost-benefit ratio to reflect the operation benefits. From further analysis on the operation benefits of fruit dealers,it found that there is little difference in the costbenefit ratio between dealers in the farm market. The average net cost-benefit ratio was 11. 94%. Specifically,if the total cost is 100 yuan,the dealer can obtain 12 yuan net profit. In order to find out how cost factors affect the operation benefits,it established a regression model for cost factors and net cost-benefit ratio. According to the survey results,when the wholesale cost increases 10000 yuan,the cost-benefit ratio will increase by 1. 454 percentage points,thus increasing the wholesale investment is helpful for increasing the net cost-benefit ratio; when the loss cost increases 10000 yuan,the cost-benefit ratio will increase by 7. 501 percentage points,thus the dealers can increase the operation benefits through controlling the loss cost and reducing the operation cost. Finally,it came up policy recommendations from the perspective of government and operators.
文摘Agroforestry and beekeeping are widely promoted as prospective Nature-</span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:""> </span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Based Income Generating Activities (NIGAs) to improve livelihoods while at </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">the same time enhancing biodiversity conservation in degrading</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> agro-ecologies. These activities can diversify and increase famers’ incomes and support in</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">stinctive biota and fauna resilience. However, evidence to showcase and compare their long-term benefits is scant. We use the case of Uluguru</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> Mountains in Tanzania to evaluate and compare viability of agroforestry and beekeeping projects using the Cost</span></span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:""> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Benefit Analysis (CBA) approach. The results of analysis yielded positive NPVs for both agroforestry and beekeeping projects at discount rates not higher than 8.2% and 8.5% respectively. Overall, the comparison of economic viability between agroforestry and beekeeping projects revealed that the former was relatively more profitable than the later in terms of both the NPV and Benefit</span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:""> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Cost Ratio (BCR) criteria. However, the Internal Rate of Return (IRR) for beekeeping was slightly higher than that of agroforestry. Yet, we underscore the fact that these two projects can jointly be implemented to enhance livelihoods of farmers and support biodiversity conservation in the study </span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">area </span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">and other parts with similar agro-ecologies in developing countries. However, farmers in these agro-ecologies need to be supported by governments and non-government development partners in terms of training and inspiration to shift from orthodox farming to sustainable NIGAs.
